The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Fipps, Lisa. Starfish. Penguin Random House, 2021.

Eliana begins the novel swimming in the pool as summer draws to a close. She glides through the water, enjoying the feeling of being weightless. She is sensitive to the imagery of whales because she is overweight and often teased by the other children at school. Eliana is disappointed that her best friend, Viv, will be moving to Indiana with her family. She does not know who she will hang out with once the school year begins. Eliana does have a new neighbor named Catalina that she begins to spend time at the pool with even though they will be attending different schools.

Eliana’s mother restricts her diet and Eliana does not want to discuss her weight constantly. Eliana’s parents decide to send her to a therapist to try to help her with her weight issues and self-esteem. Eliana feels betrayed by her parents, but she believes that her father is trying to help her while her mother is likely trying to hurt her. As soon as Eliana arrives at school, the popular girls tease her and compare her to a whale.

Eliana struggles with food guilt and hides food all around the house to circumvent her mother’s diet rules. She cannot fight the compulsion to eat in secret, fueling her shame and insecurity. Eliana and Catalina grow closer, and Eliana confides in her about the tension in her family and the embarrassment she feels for being overweight and seemingly out of control.

Eliana is tormented at school, and she wishes for any way to make the bullies leave her alone. She does not know what to do, and does not have anybody she can turn to for help. Dr. Wood, the therapist, begins to brainstorm ideas for Eliana to confront the bullies without resorting to bullying herself. She struggles to stand up for herself in part because she believes that the cruel things they say to her about her body are true. She does not believe she deserves kindness or better treatment.

Eliana’s relationship with her siblings, Liam and Anaïs, further deteriorates. She is desperate to somehow make them see how their treatment hurts her. Liam is resistant to change because he blames Eliana for their parents’ relationship problems. Anaïs is more open to acknowledge the hurt she caused her little sister and resolves to be more supportive in the future.

Eliana works with Dr. Wood to find a way to confront her mother. She invites both of her parents to a therapy session to share how she feels and what she needs in order to feel supported in the future.

Viv comes to visit Eliana in Texas and meets Catalina as well. The girls play together in the pool and Eliana is finally comfortable “starfishing”, spreading out and taking up as much space as she wants rather than trying to shrink herself and fade into the background.